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Dec 12, 2012
12/12
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so thank you very much, madam president. i note an absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: the presiding officer: the senator from delaware. mr. coons: i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. coons: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h.r. 3783, which was received from the house of representatives. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 3783, an act to provide for a comprehensive strategy to counter iran's growing hostile presence and activity in the western hemisphere and for other purposes. the presiding officer: works the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. coons: i ask unanimous consent that the rubio amendment at the desk be agreed to. the presiding officer: without t objection, so ordered. mr. coons: i know of no further debate on this measure and ask that the bill be read for a third time and that the
so thank you very much, madam president. i note an absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: the presiding officer: the senator from delaware. mr. coons: i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. coons: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h.r. 3783, which was received from the...
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Dec 14, 2012
12/12
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madam president, you played a key role in that as well. the hire a hero veterans bill to help our veterans fighting for jobs actually have opportunities to be hired by employers who are looking for those heroes. the crowdfunding legislation which will help young entrepreneurs get access to new capital and create jobs, something i hope the s.e.c. will immediately come up with a rule so these people can start creating jobs and raising money. legislation to reform wall street, where i was the deciding vote to strengthen our country's financial system. legislation to eliminate an onerous 3% withholding tax the stealth tax that would have affected government contractors. that's also gone and into law. legislation to ensure that our fallen heroes receive the dignity and respect they deserve at the arlington national cemetery. and that's something now that is also fixed. and many, many other congressional actions that have made a difference not only in massachusetts, but in this great country. these are all shared successes that i was proud to be
madam president, you played a key role in that as well. the hire a hero veterans bill to help our veterans fighting for jobs actually have opportunities to be hired by employers who are looking for those heroes. the crowdfunding legislation which will help young entrepreneurs get access to new capital and create jobs, something i hope the s.e.c. will immediately come up with a rule so these people can start creating jobs and raising money. legislation to reform wall street, where i was the...
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Dec 5, 2012
12/12
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madam president, i yield the floor. mr. grassley: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from iowa is recognized. mr. grassley: there's been a lot of discussion lately about how the senate is not working properly. this is evidenced by even a casual observer. to understand how the senate was observed to work and what has gone wrong requires some knowledge of the history and the rules of the senate, and i would put more recommend if more empy thank the rules of the senate, particularly as expressed in "the federalist" papers but the people who are advising the states -- who were advising the states to approve the constitution. to many people this subject, no doubt, seems arcane and confusing. the simplistic explanation that we get from the other side of the aisle -- and it is a steady drumbeat -- is that republicans are filibustering everything just willy-nilly, thereby grinding the snoo senate to a h. various motivations are suggested as to why republicans would do such a thing, but the point that they want americans to take away is that
madam president, i yield the floor. mr. grassley: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from iowa is recognized. mr. grassley: there's been a lot of discussion lately about how the senate is not working properly. this is evidenced by even a casual observer. to understand how the senate was observed to work and what has gone wrong requires some knowledge of the history and the rules of the senate, and i would put more recommend if more empy thank the rules of the senate,...
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Dec 12, 2012
12/12
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madam president, i yield the floor. mr. udall: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from colorado. mr. udall: madam president, we're in a quorum call? the presiding officer: no, we're not. mr. udall: madam president, i rise today to first recognize the life of a very unique and remarkable coloradoan. then i will speak to a cause that's near and dear to me, i think as well to the presiding officer, which is our wind energy industry and the threat that it faces. but i first want to speak about a man by the name of randy at kinson who we lost just this year, october 9, 2012, at the way-too-young age of 60. he was a firefighter. he dedicated himself to serving his community and, as he put it, his brothers and sisters in colorado's fire departments. randy was an example to all of us because he dedicated his entire adult life to helping others. he started at the age of 19 in 1972 by joining the denver fire deposit and denver firefighters local 858. not long after that, he took a more active role in representing his fellow firefighters as
madam president, i yield the floor. mr. udall: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from colorado. mr. udall: madam president, we're in a quorum call? the presiding officer: no, we're not. mr. udall: madam president, i rise today to first recognize the life of a very unique and remarkable coloradoan. then i will speak to a cause that's near and dear to me, i think as well to the presiding officer, which is our wind energy industry and the threat that it faces. but i first want to...
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Dec 4, 2012
12/12
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thank you, madam president. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from delaware. mr. coons: i rise today to speak in favor of the amendment numbered 3262 which i am honored to cosponsor with senator mccain and senator levin. i want to first start by thanking them for their discipline, diligent and very strong leadership of this year's ndaa process. this is an authorization bill taken up and considered by this senate for 52 years, and despite a lot of challenges here, a lot of difficulties we have getting to bills, getting past objections, getting to reasonable processes and amendments, these two fine gentlemen have led admirably in a very difficult environment. this amendment does what i think we need to do next, to put before the senate in an appropriate classified setting useful information about the possibilities before us and before our allies in a very difficult, very complex region that is, as senator paul has noted, currently undergoing dramatic conflict. let me speak to a few points that persuaded me to joi
thank you, madam president. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from delaware. mr. coons: i rise today to speak in favor of the amendment numbered 3262 which i am honored to cosponsor with senator mccain and senator levin. i want to first start by thanking them for their discipline, diligent and very strong leadership of this year's ndaa process. this is an authorization bill taken up and considered by this senate for 52 years, and despite a lot of challenges here, a...
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Dec 27, 2012
12/12
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with that, madam president, i yield the floor. madam president, i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: a senator: madam madam presiden? the presiding officer: the senator from kentucky. mr. paul: i rise today -- the presiding officer: there is a quorum call, senator. mr. paul: i ask unanimous consent to vitiate the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. paul: madam president, i rise today in support of the fourth amendment protection act. the fourth amendment guarantees the right of the people to be secure in their persons, their houses and their papers and their effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. john adams considered the fight against general warrants or what they called in those days writs of assistance, he considered this fight to be when the child independence was born. our intelligence and the fourth amendment go hand in hand. they emerge together. to discount or to dilute the fourth amendment would be to deny really what constitutes our very republic. but somehow along the way,
with that, madam president, i yield the floor. madam president, i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: a senator: madam madam presiden? the presiding officer: the senator from kentucky. mr. paul: i rise today -- the presiding officer: there is a quorum call, senator. mr. paul: i ask unanimous consent to vitiate the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. paul: madam president, i rise today in support of the fourth...
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Dec 14, 2012
12/12
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madam chair, what you are doing is important. final comment is i appreciate that the supplement l appropriation has cdbg noun give us the wherewithal and flexibility to be able when it is appropriate to give them a grant which may make a difference between staying open and close or getting open or closing or getting their business back or not. and so doing also hiring so many people that in fact are hired by the small businesses which the engine of our entire economic background. and i'd ask consent to have any entire statement put to the record. >> thank you. without objection. senator bloomen that. >> thank you. i want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate and second, for your personal involvement and outreach to these communities not only in new york, and new jersey but also connecticut and not just in this disaster, but also going back to 2011 and the catastrophe the connecticut suffered, three of them in that period of time when you personally contacted me and offered assistance. so i want the people of c
madam chair, what you are doing is important. final comment is i appreciate that the supplement l appropriation has cdbg noun give us the wherewithal and flexibility to be able when it is appropriate to give them a grant which may make a difference between staying open and close or getting open or closing or getting their business back or not. and so doing also hiring so many people that in fact are hired by the small businesses which the engine of our entire economic background. and i'd ask...
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Dec 11, 2012
12/12
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and with that, madam president, i would yield the floor. mr. leahy: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: madam president, i applaud my colleague from vermont for what he has said. i think he expresses the feelings of so many vermonters across the political spectrum in our state, so i thank him for doing that. madam president, i ask consent that my full statement on the judicial nominations of john dowdell and jesus bernal be placed in the record at the beginning of the debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: and i ask unanimous consent that i proceed using the time allotted to me as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: madam president, we are nearing -- no matter what calendar one goes by, we are nearing the end of this congress. we have only a few short weeks to end the stalemate and pass a farm bill. for months, house leaders have blocked a vote on a bipartisan farm bill. we passed one in this body. across the political spectrum, republicans and democrats alike, a bi
and with that, madam president, i would yield the floor. mr. leahy: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: madam president, i applaud my colleague from vermont for what he has said. i think he expresses the feelings of so many vermonters across the political spectrum in our state, so i thank him for doing that. madam president, i ask consent that my full statement on the judicial nominations of john dowdell and jesus bernal be placed in the record at the...
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Dec 4, 2012
12/12
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levin: madam president, i will take but one minute. the presiding officer: the senate will be in order. go ahead. mr. levin: i will take but just one minute. i just feel so grateful and so proud that a tradition of our committee in this senate has been maintained. our 51st cost-effective defense authorization -- 51st consecutive defense authorization bill, a bill that is vitally important to our nation. i'm grateful to our colleagues for working on a bipartisan basis through a normal and open legislative process to produce this bill. i'm grateful to stand here with my partner, senator mccain, and work together on this bill, to all of the members of the committee, to our staff, the floor and cloakroom staff. we passed over 100 amendments. it was a process which allowed us to be just as accommodating as we humanly could. again, the balance of my statement will be put into the record, but one person i want to single out is someone who has worked for the committee for 41 years. this will be her last year, chris cower. she is our chief cler
levin: madam president, i will take but one minute. the presiding officer: the senate will be in order. go ahead. mr. levin: i will take but just one minute. i just feel so grateful and so proud that a tradition of our committee in this senate has been maintained. our 51st cost-effective defense authorization -- 51st consecutive defense authorization bill, a bill that is vitally important to our nation. i'm grateful to our colleagues for working on a bipartisan basis through a normal and open...
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Dec 13, 2012
12/12
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with that, madam president, i would request unanimous consent -- madam president? the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reed: i have six unanimous consent requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the apresume o approve majority and minority leaders. i ask that these requests be agreed to and printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reed: madam president, i would yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. ms. snowe: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. madam president madam president i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. snowe: thank you. madam president, i also ask unanimous consent that proceed as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. snowe: rand i also ask unanimous consent that i consume as much time as needed. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. snowe: thank you, madam president. i rise tod
with that, madam president, i would request unanimous consent -- madam president? the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reed: i have six unanimous consent requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the apresume o approve majority and minority leaders. i ask that these requests be agreed to and printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reed: madam president, i would yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. the...
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Dec 29, 2012
12/12
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bush and madame secretary for taking time to be here today and the contributions to this effort and your commitment to advancing the cause of freedom and democracy in burma. i would be remiss if i did not mention someone who's not with us today, congressman tom lantos. tom, and his wife and staff, worked so hard on behalf of burma for so many years. i wish he were here to share this moment in history with us because i think today is an amazing day. today is an incredible. who would have thought that when this bill was introduced in the house in 2008 when aung san suu kyi was under house arrest that in a few short years she would be standing or sitting with us on u.s. soil receiving this honor as a member of the burmese parliament. back then we thought about granting the metal and extension which may have been the first time a person would have received in the history of the metal the congressional gold medal while in detention. who would have imagined this change was possible. who would have thought that this could happen. let me tell you one who believed it could come true, aung san suu
bush and madame secretary for taking time to be here today and the contributions to this effort and your commitment to advancing the cause of freedom and democracy in burma. i would be remiss if i did not mention someone who's not with us today, congressman tom lantos. tom, and his wife and staff, worked so hard on behalf of burma for so many years. i wish he were here to share this moment in history with us because i think today is an amazing day. today is an incredible. who would have thought...
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Dec 17, 2012
12/12
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reid: sorry, madam president. i further ask the committee-reported amendments be considered, that the white house amendment which is at the desk be agreed to, the substitute amendment as amended be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table with no intervening action or debate and any statements related to this matter be placed in the record at the appropriate place as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to s. res. 619. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 619, to elect patrick j. leahy, a senator from the state of vermont, to be president pro tempore, of the united states senate. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, there being no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer
reid: sorry, madam president. i further ask the committee-reported amendments be considered, that the white house amendment which is at the desk be agreed to, the substitute amendment as amended be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table with no intervening action or debate and any statements related to this matter be placed in the record at the appropriate place as if read. the presiding officer: without...
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Dec 13, 2012
12/12
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if we can do those o things, madam president, at the beginning of the year, i think the united states senate will begin to function much more effectively. it will be a better place to work. we'll get our job done in a better way. there will be less finger pointing and more results. there will be a change in behavior, which is what we really need instead of a change in rules. and it will inspire the confidence of the people of the united states about the kind of job we're doing. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor, and i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: is en mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from washington. ms. cantwell: i ask the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. cantwell: i rise to say what as important day it is for the u.s. coast guard. our communities who benefit from those services, the men and women who answer the call to serve. the reason i say that is because we have passed a bill that gives 40,000 active-duty coast guard members the support th
if we can do those o things, madam president, at the beginning of the year, i think the united states senate will begin to function much more effectively. it will be a better place to work. we'll get our job done in a better way. there will be less finger pointing and more results. there will be a change in behavior, which is what we really need instead of a change in rules. and it will inspire the confidence of the people of the united states about the kind of job we're doing. thank you, mr....
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Dec 12, 2012
12/12
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mikulski: madam president. madam president, i rise to really comment about some wonderful men in the senate that are retiring on both sides of the aisle. earlier today i spoke about my deep affection and sorry to see go friends olympia snowe and kay bailey hutchison. but, you know, i want to rise as the dean of the women to say some very special things about very special men on both sides of the aisle. i'd like -- because when i came, it was only nancy kassebaum and myself, and yet we worked on so many issues together, and there are really wonderful men here that supported me, supported our issues, but really stood up for their states and their communities. i want to say goodbye to my -- aloha to my very good friend, danny akaka. he's been a real advocate not only for the people of hawaii but wow, the way he stood up for federal work force, the civil servants who do such a great job, the outstanding job he's done on the veterans committee. lives are better off, particularly for our veterans, and i want to say a
mikulski: madam president. madam president, i rise to really comment about some wonderful men in the senate that are retiring on both sides of the aisle. earlier today i spoke about my deep affection and sorry to see go friends olympia snowe and kay bailey hutchison. but, you know, i want to rise as the dean of the women to say some very special things about very special men on both sides of the aisle. i'd like -- because when i came, it was only nancy kassebaum and myself, and yet we worked on...
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Dec 13, 2012
12/12
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madam president, i yield the floor. mrs. hutchison: madam president? the presiding officer: the is senator from text. mrs. hutchison: madam president, i am so touched by the comments by my colleague, senator mikulski, about myself and olympia. and i appreciate so much that she has singled us out because senator mikulski is a pioneer. she didn't build the pyramids, i might say, but it was close. she was in the house first and then came to the senate. she is our longest-serving woman senator. and she will probably be the dean of all the senate at some point, because she is a legend. she is a legend in the senate. she is a legend in maryland. she is a legend in our country. and when i think back of the things that we've been able to accomplish -- and i -- it's not that it was just because we were women and we were here. but in a deliberative body, where you have 100 people representing 50 very different states, it's not that the men aren't -- are against anything that we have teamed up to do. it is that is, because of our experiences that we bring to the
madam president, i yield the floor. mrs. hutchison: madam president? the presiding officer: the is senator from text. mrs. hutchison: madam president, i am so touched by the comments by my colleague, senator mikulski, about myself and olympia. and i appreciate so much that she has singled us out because senator mikulski is a pioneer. she didn't build the pyramids, i might say, but it was close. she was in the house first and then came to the senate. she is our longest-serving woman senator. and...
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Dec 6, 2012
12/12
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durbin: madam president? the presiding officer: the minority leader -- the assistant majority leader. mr. durbin: madam president, what just transpired deserves a word. senator mcconnell came to the floor this morning and offered a change in law that would help us avoid the kind of obstruction and the kind of showdowns that we have had in the past over the debt ceiling. in fact, the idea was not new. it was his original idea that has been the law of the land and followed. and he offered and challenged senator reid to bring this matter for consideration in the senate. senator reid just agreed to it, said he would bring this for a vote in 20 minutes and we would decide up or down whether the debt ceiling problem would be resolved once and for all under senator mcconnell's proposal. and then senator mcconnell objected, objected saying no, no, we need 60 votes. for those who don't follow the senate, 60 votes is the equivalent of a filibuster vote, breaking a filibuster vote. so this may be a moment in senate hist
durbin: madam president? the presiding officer: the minority leader -- the assistant majority leader. mr. durbin: madam president, what just transpired deserves a word. senator mcconnell came to the floor this morning and offered a change in law that would help us avoid the kind of obstruction and the kind of showdowns that we have had in the past over the debt ceiling. in fact, the idea was not new. it was his original idea that has been the law of the land and followed. and he offered and...
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Dec 5, 2012
12/12
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with that, madam president, i would yield the floor. mr. mccain: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from arizona is recognized. mr. mccain: it's my pleasure to rise today to speak in favor of h.r. 6156, the russia and moldova jackson-vanik repeal and the sergei magnitsky rule of law accountability act. this day has been a long time in coming. in fact, it's now come thanks to the great work of many of my colleagues, and i want to take just a minute to recognize a few of them personally. first of all, is the senator from maryland. it's not an exaggeration to say that -- at least to say that were it not for senator cardin's leadership on behalf of human rights in russia and his tireless dedication to memorializing the courageous dissent of one remarkable man, sergei magnitsky, we would not be here today. senator cardin is the original author of the sergei magnitsky rule of law accountability act. he passionately educated his colleagues about the need for this legislation, which is why it eventually won 25 bipartisan cosponsors in the senate. the senat
with that, madam president, i would yield the floor. mr. mccain: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from arizona is recognized. mr. mccain: it's my pleasure to rise today to speak in favor of h.r. 6156, the russia and moldova jackson-vanik repeal and the sergei magnitsky rule of law accountability act. this day has been a long time in coming. in fact, it's now come thanks to the great work of many of my colleagues, and i want to take just a minute to recognize a few of them...
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Dec 5, 2012
12/12
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thank you, madam president. i yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from michigan is recognized. mr. levin: madam president, i understand now under the existing unanimous consent agreement that we are going to be proceeding to debate a judge. i would ask unanimous consent that immediately after the disposition of that nomination that i be the first democratic senator recognized when we return to the pending trade bill. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 676, which the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, michael p. shea of connecticut to be united states district judge. the presiding officer: the senator from vermont is recognized. mr. leahy: madam president, the senate is finally being allowed to vote today on the nomination of michael shea to be a district judge in the united states district court for district -- the district of connecticut. it has taken a long time for this day to come but he
thank you, madam president. i yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from michigan is recognized. mr. levin: madam president, i understand now under the existing unanimous consent agreement that we are going to be proceeding to debate a judge. i would ask unanimous consent that immediately after the disposition of that nomination that i be the first democratic senator recognized when we return to the pending trade bill. the presiding officer: without...
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Dec 19, 2012
12/12
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madam president, u.s. failure to respond to the needs of this strategic ally in its time of need by simply approving the already-signed agreement would signal to palau and to most other nations in the pacific that the u.s. is an unreliable partner. so, madam president, i urge the support of my colleagues for this amendment and for approving the agreed to assistance to palau so that they may have the resources needed to respond to super typhoon bofa. madam president, i have six unanimous consent requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have been approved by the majority and minority leaders. i ask unanimous consent that these requests be agreed to and that these requests be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. bingaman: madam president, i yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mrs. hutchison: madam president? madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the quoru
madam president, u.s. failure to respond to the needs of this strategic ally in its time of need by simply approving the already-signed agreement would signal to palau and to most other nations in the pacific that the u.s. is an unreliable partner. so, madam president, i urge the support of my colleagues for this amendment and for approving the agreed to assistance to palau so that they may have the resources needed to respond to super typhoon bofa. madam president, i have six unanimous consent...
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Dec 20, 2012
12/12
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madam president, i would yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from missouri. a senator: thank you, madam president. madam president, i want to talk about the disaster supplemental today, but before i do that, i want to spend just a minute talking about the senator from hawaii, mr. inouye. mr. blunt: we were at the service this morning in the rotunda of the capitol where only 31 americans in the history of the country have been honored by that opportunity for americans to think about them as they lay in the center of the capitol on the catapult that was used -- ca -- catafalk that wasd by president lincoln and others. i was able to place the wreath at the capitol when rosa parks was in that same place, and i just want to say, madam president, how honored i was to get to serve in the senate with mr. inouye. he really not only was a hero in so many ways but i think connected all of us to the greatest generation, as tom brokaw titled that generation, and there was no better example of that quiet, purposeful, heroic
madam president, i would yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from missouri. a senator: thank you, madam president. madam president, i want to talk about the disaster supplemental today, but before i do that, i want to spend just a minute talking about the senator from hawaii, mr. inouye. mr. blunt: we were at the service this morning in the rotunda of the capitol where only 31 americans in the history of the country have been honored by that...
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Dec 17, 2012
12/12
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madam president, i yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: before the senator from illinois leaves the floor, i commend him for his statement statement, first on his nominee for illinois judgeship, something that's been delayed far too long through no fault of the senator from illinois. madam president, this weekend was a very difficult and trying weekend, for our families and so many other families, nothing compared to the families in newtown, of course. i pretty much stayed off the phone, spent time with children and grandchildren. made an exception for a couple of phone calls with the distinguished senior senator from illinois. i told him when we come back in a couple of weeks in the new congress, i'll work with him to make sure the senate judiciary committee has full and thorough hearings on the subjects he's just talked about. just as he stated here so eloquently and as he did in his television interviews this weekend. it is the time to have -- the president was absolutely right
madam president, i yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: before the senator from illinois leaves the floor, i commend him for his statement statement, first on his nominee for illinois judgeship, something that's been delayed far too long through no fault of the senator from illinois. madam president, this weekend was a very difficult and trying weekend, for our families and so many other families, nothing compared to the...
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Dec 18, 2012
12/12
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merkley: madam president? mr. leahy: madam president, i see the distinguished senators from arizona and others who may wish to be speaking in morning business. may i suggest that we close morning business, go back on the bill, and if somebody wishes to speak, as many do to our departed colleague, they could always ask consent and go back as if in morning business. i would ask the morning business be closed and we go back to h.r. 1. the presiding officer: morning business is closed. under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of h.r. 1 which the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 14, h.r. 1, an act making appropriations for the department of defense, and so forth and for other purposes. mr. merkley: madam president? i ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up my amendment number 3367. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, the clerk will report the amendment. the clerk: the senator from oregon, mr. merkley, proposes an amendment num
merkley: madam president? mr. leahy: madam president, i see the distinguished senators from arizona and others who may wish to be speaking in morning business. may i suggest that we close morning business, go back on the bill, and if somebody wishes to speak, as many do to our departed colleague, they could always ask consent and go back as if in morning business. i would ask the morning business be closed and we go back to h.r. 1. the presiding officer: morning business is closed. under the...
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Dec 18, 2012
12/12
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he said madam president, i wish to step back in history, if i may. on september 7, 1941, something terrible happened in hawaii. pearl harbor was bombed by the japanese. three weeks later, the government of the united states declared that all japanese americans, citizens born in the united states or of japanese ancestry were to be considered enemy aliens. as a result like these undocumented people, they could not put on the uniform of this land. senator inouye went on to say well, i was 17 at the time, and naturally i rescented this because i loved my country. i wanted to put on a uniform to show where my heart stood, but we were denied. so we petitioned the government, and a year later they said okay, if you wish to volunteer, go ahead. senator inouye said well, to make a long story short, the regiment i served in made up of japanese americans had the highest casualties in europe and the most decorated in the history of the united states. and then he turned and said i think the beneficiaries of the senator from illinois and the dream act will do the
he said madam president, i wish to step back in history, if i may. on september 7, 1941, something terrible happened in hawaii. pearl harbor was bombed by the japanese. three weeks later, the government of the united states declared that all japanese americans, citizens born in the united states or of japanese ancestry were to be considered enemy aliens. as a result like these undocumented people, they could not put on the uniform of this land. senator inouye went on to say well, i was 17 at...
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Dec 19, 2012
12/12
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he said madam president, i wish to set back in history. on december 7, 1941, pearl harbor bombed hawaii. that was declared all japanese-americans on the americans, citizens born in the united states or had japanese ancestry would be considered enemy aliens. as a result, they could not put i love my country and wanted to put on a uniform to show her my heart said. we petition the government. and they said if you wish to volunteer, go ahead. he turned and said that i think the beneficiaries of the senator from illinois in the dream act will do the same. it was a short statement that was captured in a few words his life and his sacrifice and what he had proven by risking his life for this country. the reason that we honor him this morning. i closed by saying two things. first, i think senator akaka came to the floor at last night about his colleague of so many years and put it in a few words. he said last night, tomorrow will be the first date since why became a state in 1959 that dan inouye will not be representing us. he went on to say that
he said madam president, i wish to set back in history. on december 7, 1941, pearl harbor bombed hawaii. that was declared all japanese-americans on the americans, citizens born in the united states or had japanese ancestry would be considered enemy aliens. as a result, they could not put i love my country and wanted to put on a uniform to show her my heart said. we petition the government. and they said if you wish to volunteer, go ahead. he turned and said that i think the beneficiaries of...
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Dec 6, 2012
12/12
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>> thank you very much, madam chairman. in your area, when katrina hit, you showed what persistence that make sure that your area was treated fairly. and even though i must tell you many of us weren't joyful to hear your ask request but nevertheless, the outcome is great. you set an example our country has to be prepared to partake this order whether it's from the military or other kinds of without the government help to be restore things. and my -- i commend secretary donovan, one of the questions that i thought about when i heard that you had assignment was how much your youth had to do with this. because they take a long time to solve the problem. -- you and your people have established one thing that when the call goes out, that the country is there to help the people. and they're not only heroic, but they're willing to do take on whatever assignments come along. and it made us all feel pretty good. the secretary, the "the times" report said the president is going to request between $45 or $55 billion for sandy relief.
>> thank you very much, madam chairman. in your area, when katrina hit, you showed what persistence that make sure that your area was treated fairly. and even though i must tell you many of us weren't joyful to hear your ask request but nevertheless, the outcome is great. you set an example our country has to be prepared to partake this order whether it's from the military or other kinds of without the government help to be restore things. and my -- i commend secretary donovan, one of the...
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Dec 6, 2012
12/12
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madam chairman, as your reference, we seem to be entering an age of increasingly violent storms. at think we really have to think carefully about whether and how to rebuild and locations we know of vulnerable and likely to be hit again which means as we go forward we have to take some vision and think about how we replace critical infrastructure. for instance, during each of the three storms in connecticut in the past year. we have most seriously been impacted by a long-term power outages as a result of our aging electrical distribution system. therefore i hope we will use this opportunity to up some power lines underground move measures of stations away from the store. other mitigation projects include front -- want protection , rhoda improvements, gardening or relocation. the estimated cost for similar projects, and towns, and infrastructure, estimated by our gunners office at $3 billion. the failure to adequately fund mitigation and resilient efforts will only lead to greater federal spending in the future as extreme weather events, including an unchanged continue to increase
madam chairman, as your reference, we seem to be entering an age of increasingly violent storms. at think we really have to think carefully about whether and how to rebuild and locations we know of vulnerable and likely to be hit again which means as we go forward we have to take some vision and think about how we replace critical infrastructure. for instance, during each of the three storms in connecticut in the past year. we have most seriously been impacted by a long-term power outages as a...
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Dec 28, 2012
12/12
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. >> madam president, you'll excuse me if i'm a little frustrated at the situation we find ourselves in, but last night president obama called myself and the speaker and maybe others from hawaii and asked if there was something we could do to avoid the fiscal cliff. i say i'm a little frustrated, because we've been asking the president and the democrats to work with us on a bipartisan agreement for months, literallye for months. a plan that would simplify theod tax code, shrink the deficit, protect the taxpayers and grow the economy. but democrats consistently rejected those offers. the president chose instead to spend his time on the campaign trail. reelected. and congressional democrats sat on theirel hands. now republicans have bent over backwards. we stepped way, way out of our comfort zone. we wanted an agreement. w but we had no takers. but the phone never rang, and so now here we are five days from the new year, and we might finally start talking. democrats have had an entire year to put forward a balance withed, bipartisan proposal, and if they had something to fit the bilker
. >> madam president, you'll excuse me if i'm a little frustrated at the situation we find ourselves in, but last night president obama called myself and the speaker and maybe others from hawaii and asked if there was something we could do to avoid the fiscal cliff. i say i'm a little frustrated, because we've been asking the president and the democrats to work with us on a bipartisan agreement for months, literallye for months. a plan that would simplify theod tax code, shrink the...
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Dec 14, 2012
12/12
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. >> thank you, madam ranking member. and i thank the chair as well. and i thank the witnesses for appearing. it is my belief that the general public probably does not put a lot of emphasis on words like arbitrage and cross-border swaps. but i do think the general public understands that a major institutions such as aig ought to be properly funded. and i think the general public understands that this country by and through its representatives did the right thing when we did not allow aig to bring down the economic system, not just in this country but probably and possibly worldwide. so i'm here today to thank you for what you're doing to help us perfect dodd-frank. there is still great work to be done, but anytime we pass legislation of this magnitude, there is work to be done in the years to come. i plan to work with you, and a plan to work with my friends across the aisle to make sure we do this great work it and i yield back the bounds of my time. >> and the gentleman yields back, and that concludes now all time for members of both sides. that we tu
. >> thank you, madam ranking member. and i thank the chair as well. and i thank the witnesses for appearing. it is my belief that the general public probably does not put a lot of emphasis on words like arbitrage and cross-border swaps. but i do think the general public understands that a major institutions such as aig ought to be properly funded. and i think the general public understands that this country by and through its representatives did the right thing when we did not allow aig...
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Dec 14, 2012
12/12
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thank you ranking member, madam waters and mr. gensler and mr. cook, the witnesses. i want to remind my colleagues of the importance of cooperation and collaboration with our international partners. i believe the u.s. should demonstrate our global leadership by raising our financial standards and not entering into a race to the bottom of sorts of banking standards. i also believe that the provisions of dodd-frank that were in place five years ago would not have faced, we wouldn't have faced the economic crises we are just beginning to crawl out of. so i'm very reluctant to carve out more exceptions or exemptions to dodd-frank before rules are fully put in place to fully implement the law or without more speculation that could go wrong. my colleague, peter king, would have us suspend enforcement of dodd-frank's volcker rule until our international partners have instituted their own regulations addressing proprietary trading. as i mentioned in my opening statement, i strongly believe that the u.s. should lead by example and not wait for others to take the league. what
thank you ranking member, madam waters and mr. gensler and mr. cook, the witnesses. i want to remind my colleagues of the importance of cooperation and collaboration with our international partners. i believe the u.s. should demonstrate our global leadership by raising our financial standards and not entering into a race to the bottom of sorts of banking standards. i also believe that the provisions of dodd-frank that were in place five years ago would not have faced, we wouldn't have faced the...
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Dec 28, 2012
12/12
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feinstein: well, thank you very much, madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from california. mrs. feinstein: thank you, mr. president. one of the things that i have learned in chairing the energy and water subcommittee, which is the committee that handles appropriations for the army corps of engineers, is how really difficult it is to get projects started, funded and constructed. and so i am one, particularly in view of storms, earthquakes, floods, damages, that you also need to do the mitigation because once it happens once, there's a heavy likelihood that it could happen again. so i rise in opposition to this amendment. the provision that the senator from oklahoma proposes would essentially take a project that's authorized, that has gone to the corps for study -- i beg your pardon? the presiding officer: the senator's time has expired. mrs. feinstein: may i ask for two minutes additional time, please. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mrs. feinstein: thank you very much. would essentially take a
feinstein: well, thank you very much, madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from california. mrs. feinstein: thank you, mr. president. one of the things that i have learned in chairing the energy and water subcommittee, which is the committee that handles appropriations for the army corps of engineers, is how really difficult it is to get projects started, funded and constructed. and so i am one, particularly in view of storms, earthquakes, floods, damages, that you also need to...
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Dec 13, 2012
12/12
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madam president, i yield the floor. mrs. hutchison: madam president? the presiding officer: the is senator from text. mrs. hutchison: madam president, i am so touched by the comments by my colleague, senator mikulski, about myself and olympia. and i appreciate so much that she has singled us out because senator mikulski is a pioneer. she didn't build the pyramids, i might say, but it was close. she was in the house first and then came to the senate. she is our longest-serving woman senator. and she will probably be the dean of all the senate at some point, because she is a legend. she is a legend in the senate. she is a legend in maryland. she is a legend in our country. and when i think back of the things that we've been able to accomplish -- and i -- it's not that it was just because we were women and we were here. but in a deliberative body, where you have 100 people representing 50 very different states, it's not that the men aren't -- are against anything that we have teamed up to do. it is that is, because of our experiences that we bring to the
madam president, i yield the floor. mrs. hutchison: madam president? the presiding officer: the is senator from text. mrs. hutchison: madam president, i am so touched by the comments by my colleague, senator mikulski, about myself and olympia. and i appreciate so much that she has singled us out because senator mikulski is a pioneer. she didn't build the pyramids, i might say, but it was close. she was in the house first and then came to the senate. she is our longest-serving woman senator. and...